Chapter 53 - New semester and First-Year War [5] (2/2)

I took a defensive posture right away, and somehow blocked the attack, but…

In the current situation, with unfavorable posture and falling behind in physical ability, I was unable to kill the momentum and ended up exposing my defenseless abdomen.

「The pay back for just now!」

She drove a sharp kick right into my abdomen.

「Ka, ha…!?」

I was blown away like a football by that superhuman leg power.

「Ku, gaha…」

The air in my lungs were squeezed out, and blood jumped about within my body

「……」

However, in order to not to allow further follow-up attacks, I immediately stood up and assumed Seigan no Kamae.

「…To take that blow, and immediately assume a counterattack posture… you have incredible physical strength after all…」

She stared at me as if she was looking at a monster.

「This time, it’s my turn…!」

「Yeah, go ahead.」

Then I made full use of all the techniques I had and incessantly attacked Rose.

She defended it with her inherent subtle swordsmanship, and replied with counterattacks at precise timings.

As a result – one by one on my body, the number of cuts increased.

However, it was not that, there was no chance to win.

Rather, the flow of the match was gradually tilting towards me.

「Eighth Sword – Yatagarasu!」

「Oh, Sakura Blossom One-Sword Style Secret Technique – Mirrored Sakura Slash!」

Both of those eight slashes collided and disappeared together.

Our physical abilities were now evenly matched.

(No, mine is slightly higher…!)

I judged that this was the time to attack, so I pressed forward.

「UOOOOOOHHH!」

「Kuh… HAAAAAAAAAAAA!」

Our swords collided, and were locked together.

(Since manifesting〈Winter Sakura〉 , Rose has visibly gone on the offensive.)

At first, I thought that she wanted to conclude the match before her ability was seen through, but it seems that, that was not the case.

(Rose had a reason to rush to attack!)

The huge sakura tree that was the source of her power – gradually began to wither.

About half of the sakura blossoms that were in full bloom, have fallen.

And each time the petals fell one by one – her physical ability also fell visibly.

(In other words,〈Winter Sakura〉has a duration …!)

In the state of locked sword to sword – In the contest of strength that I was losing before,

「HA!」

「Kyaa…!」

This time I won.

Blown backwards, Rose managed to adapt to perform ukemi and immediately assumed Seigan no Kamae.

「It seems that there is a duration to〈Winter Sakura〉…No, is it more accurate to say that you don’t have full control?」

「……」

When I asked that, she fell silent.

I seem to have hit the bulls-eye.

(Didn’t Leia-sensei say that it will take an enormous amount of time to control the soul dress after it manifests?)

The more powerful it is, the more difficult it is to control.

「…You saw through it in the middle of the match. As Allen says, I haven’t managed to control〈Winter Sakura〉. The three-minute duration… was already long gone.」

She told me as though confessing.

And the next moment.

「-So, I will settle this match with this next attack!」

All the remaining cherry blossoms gathered on her sword.

Her sword, supplied with enormous power from〈Winter Sakura〉, gave off a mysterious scarlet glow.

「……」

In front of the overwhelming pressure, I involuntarily gulped.

「-Here I come, Allen.」

「Aa… let’s settle this.」

We exchanged brief words, and we broke into a run at the same time.

「HAAAAAAAAAAA!」

「UOOOOOHHHHHH!」

The moment we stepped into each other’s range,

「Sakura Blossom One-Sword Style Secret Technique – Mirrored Sakura Slash!」

「Fifth Sword – World Judgement!」

The attack which carried each other’s body and soul, intersected.

And then,

「…You are so strong. Allen…」

Rose’s sword broke.

At the same time – the main body of Winter Sakura, disappeared like sand.

「-The match is over.」

As I pointed my sword tip towards Rose,

「…Aa, it’s my complete defeat.」

She, who had done her best, laughed momentarily.

「M-MATCH OVEEEEERRRR! The one who came out on top of that breathtaking fierce fight is – ALLEN RODOREEE!」

In this way, I somehow managed to defeat Rose, who manifested a powerful soul dress, and advanced to the final stage of the First-Year War.